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NIGEL DAVIES has claimed he has been given the full backing of axed Wales coach Gareth Jenkins.

Davies was placed in temporary charge of Wales following the sacking of Jenkins after they dismally crashed out of the World Cup, failing even to reach the knock out stages.

Defeat to Fiji in Nantes in their final Pool B match saw Wales make an early exit from the competition and also signalled the end of Jenkins’ 17-month reign as national team head coach.

Davies was brought in as assistant to Jenkins, with the pair having developed a good relationship while working together as regional coaches for the Llanelli Scarlets.

However, Davies, who takes over as caretaker coach for Wales’ inaugural “Prince William Cup” clash with South Africa on November 24 in Cardiff, believes he has the full backing of his predecessor.

“I have spoken to Gareth on a number of occasions and he is very supportive and understands my situation,” said Davies. “It was a very difficult decision to make because of my relationship with Gareth.

“I have a huge amount of respect and regard for Gareth and I think that unfortunately Welsh rugby has lost a great servant and someone who has a huge amount of knowledge.

“It gives us a great opportunity as coaches to prove ourselves – but it is not about how I feel, it is about doing the best for Wales and doing the best for these players.

“That’s my focus for the next seven weeks.”

Davies and assistants Rowland Phillips, Neil Jenkins and former Mold and Bangor hooker Robin McBryde are only likely to be in place for the next seven weeks.

The search for a new coach has already started, and it is likely the new man will want to bring in his own backroom staff.

Despite the uncertainty of his future, Davies says he is determined to give his all for the next few weeks, starting with preparing a team to play South Africa at the Millennium Stadium and ending with preparing a detailed portfolio for the new coach.

“I am here to do a job for Wales for seven weeks and after that who knows?” he added.

“I have to prepare the team for South Africa as well as prepare the dossier of information so that we can inform the new coach on where we feel we have gone wrong, and what we have done right.”

Meanwhile, the search for Wales’ next coach begins today with group chief executive Roger Lewis flying out to New Zealand on a scouting mission.

Lewis, along with chairman David Pickering, will travel Down Under ready to speak to five candidates to succeed Jenkins, with Warren Gatland and Robbie Deans at the top of the WRU wanted list.

Former Ireland and Wasps coach Warren Gatland is currently in charge of NPC side Waikato, while Deans is the coach of Super 14 side the Crusaders, who are the most successful side since the formation of Super rugby in New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.

John Mitchell, once England assistant, and ex-Wales boss Steve Hansen, who is likely to lose his assistant post to Graham Henry following New Zealand’s shock exit, are also likely to be touted.

“We have already spoken to three southern hemisphere coaches who are at the World Cup and we will be speaking to another five in New Zealand,” confirmed Lewis.

“In all there are about eight, and there are most probably 10 people in the world who could do this job.

“But this is not about one person who will sort out all our issues, this is a person who will fit into a strategy of creating long-term sustainability for rugby.”